Hand cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A device for reducing a level of infectious agents present on one or more hands of a user. This device may reduce the level of infectious agents present on one or more fingers and/or thumbs of a user, specifically reducing a level of infectious agents present on the distal aspect of the digit; including, but not limited to an underside of a nail plate, and an area of hyponychium skin between a free margin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of a digit, such as for example, a finger, thumb, or toe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/196,565, filed Mar. 4, 2014, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/901,936, filed Nov. 8, 2013, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentireties for any and all non-limiting purposes.

BACKGROUND

Inherently, a person's hands may interact with one or more environments,objects, animals, or other people throughout the course of daily life.Accordingly, a person's hands may come into contact with, and presentone or more surfaces that may allow for retention of, and subsequenttransmission of, various forms of infectious agents. Infectious agentsare otherwise referred to as pathogens, or “germs,” and may include,among others, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and parasites.Furthermore, the presence of one or more infectious agents on a person'shands may lead to said person contracting, or transmitting, one or morecommunicable (transmissible) diseases. As such, it is beneficial forpeople to wash their hands regularly.

Various cleaning agents (such as, among others, antibacterial handwashes, surfactants (soaps), and sanitizers, and the like), in additionto various tools (such as, among others, scrubbing brushes, nail picks,and the like), are known in the art for aiding in reducing a level ofinfectious agents present on a person's hands. However, in spite of theavailability of various materials and tools, it is known that variouscommunicable diseases are still transmitted due to improper handcleaning technique, and/or a frequency of hand cleaning that isinadequate. This issue of transmission of one or more communicablediseases as a result of contact, and subsequent retention of one or moreinfectious agents on a person's hand is of particular importance fordiverse environments, ranging from restaurants to laboratories andhospitals. In this specific example, a healthcare worker may contaminatehis/her hands through contact with one or more patients infected withone or more communicable diseases. In some instances, the infectiousagents (microorganisms) contaminating the healthcare worker's hands maysurvive on skin for the length of time ranging from minutes to hours,and may spread to their clothing if they are not adequately removed. Inthis example, if the healthcare worker does not thoroughly clean his/herhands after contact with the one or more infected patients, and beforecontact with one or more healthy persons, transmission of the one ormore communicable diseases may result. Furthermore, and as identified ina World Health Organization study (WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene inHealth Care: a Summary, 2009), the incidence of contraction of one ormore infections due primarily to transmission within a clinicalenvironment ranges from 4.5% to 19% and above in various countries forwhich information was presented. Additionally, transmission bycontaminated healthcare workers hands was identified as one of the mostcommon methods. This issue is not restricted to just healthcare workers.Indeed, recent outbreaks of the influenza virus have demonstrated. Thequick and devastating effects of human to human transmission, andineffective hand-washing continues to be one of the primary causes ofthis transmission.

Even if individuals make appropriate efforts to clean their handsfrequently, they may not employ the appropriate technique, and thereforenot reduce the level of infectious agents present on one or more hands(or portion thereof) enough to prevent the transmission of communicablediseases. In particular, it may be found that a relatively highconcentration of infectious agents may be retained in proximity to thenails of a hand of a user after a cleaning process when compared to thesurface area of skin of a hand as a whole. Specifically, a highconcentration of infectious agents may be present on an underside of anail plate, and on an area of skin proximate to the nail plate, (i.e.,the hyponychium skin between a free margin of the nail plate and anonychodermal band of a finger or any digit). As such, the need existsfor a device, and for associated methods, for improving cleaningappendages, including hands and feet.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merelypresents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects described herein relate to a device for cleaning appendages,such as for example, human hands. In certain embodiments, a device mayreduce the level of infectious agents present on one or more fingersand/or thumbs of a user, specifically reducing a level of infectiousagents present on the distal aspect of the digit; including, but notlimited to an underside of a nail plate, and an area of hyponychium skinbetween a free margin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of adigit, such as for example, a finger, thumb, or toe. In variousimplementations, it may be a unitary device.

An example device may have a body composed of at least one compressiblematerial, which may be configured to retain a cleaning agent within atleast a portion of the body. The body may be configurable to transitionfrom a first compressed state to an expanded second state upon beingexposed to at least one of: an increase of an atmospheric pressure forceabove an atmospheric pressure threshold and a decrease in a compressiveforce below a compressive force threshold. The device, when in one ormore states, may include hand-placement structures comprising an outersurface configured to receive a palm. Hand placement structures may,with respect to a first horizontal axis, oppose each other.

One or more example devices may include at least one digit cleaningregion. A region may be positioned, with respect to the horizontal axis,between a first hand-placement structure's outer surface and a secondhand-placement structure's outer surface. The region may be configuredto receive at least a portion of a plurality of digits of each of thefirst and the second hand of the user and upon use of the device toreduce a level of infectious agents present on the distal aspect of atleast one digit, including but not limited to an underside of a nailplate of each of the plurality of digits as well as an area ofhyponychium skin between a free margin of the nail plate and anonychodermal band of each of the plurality of digits.

Certain devices may be configured to expand, such as for example whenthe atmospheric pressure threshold is at about or above the standardatmospheric pressure of 101.325 kPa. Transitioning of the device and/orthe release of one or more cleaning agents from the device may beconfigured to occur when the device is exposed to at least one of: anatmospheric pressure force meeting an atmospheric pressure threshold, acompressive force meeting a compressive force threshold, and a twistingor rotational force upon a portion of the body.

In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the body is degradable andthe device is configured to decompose during use of the device.Decomposition may be at a rate coincident with an intended use timeframe of the device. A device may include at least a first materialconfigured to degrade at a first rate and a second material configuredto degrade at the second rate. In further embodiments, the device isconfigured such that during use, at least one of: a force of the user'sdigits and a rotational force of the device along an axis of rotation isconfigured to expose a cleaning agent held within the device to beextruded onto at least a portion of the user's digits on or in thedevice. In other embodiments, at least one of the force of the user'sdigits and the rotational force of the device is configured to result inthe atraumatic cleaning of the distal aspect of the digit including theunderside of a nail plate of the plurality of digits within the cavitiesas well as an area of hyponychium skin between a free margin of the nailplate and an onychodermal band of each of the plurality of digits.

The device may include a plurality of openings aligned with a pluralityof cavities, and configured to receive one or more fingers and/or thumbsof the user. The hand cleaning device further may include a barrierstructure between adjacent cavities to reduce transmission of aninfectious agent between cavities. Furthermore, the hand cleaning deviceincludes an exterior outlet and an interior outlet for release of acleaning agent onto the hand and/or portion thereof (e.g., fingers) ofthe user. In another embodiment, the hand cleaning device may have a lipstructure within a cavity, for increasing a surface area of hyponychiumskin that is exposed to a cleaning agent.

In yet another embodiment, the hand cleaning device may have a cleaningagent reservoir for holding a cleaning agent to be released onto one ormore hands of the user. The hand cleaning device may have a releasemechanism within the device enclosure structure for releasing thecleaning agent onto one or more hands of the user. The hand cleaningdevice may, in one embodiment, comprise one or more of a porousmaterial, an abrasive material for scrubbing skin of the user, or adegradable material. In yet another embodiment, the hand cleaning devicemay comprise a cylindrical shaped structure. In another embodiment, thehand cleaning device may expand from a compressed state with asubstantially cylindrical shape into an uncompressed state with asubstantially spherical shape.

In yet another aspect, this disclosure relates to a device for reducinga level of an infectious agent on a hand of the user and for reducingtransmission of the infectious agent between two fingers, two thumbs, ora finger and/or any digit of a user. The device has a divider structureseparating a first hand-placement structure and a second hand-placementstructure, for separating the fingers and/or any digit of a first handof the user from the fingers and/or thumb of a second hand of a user.The device further has an inlet for receiving a hand cleaning materialand an outlet for releasing that hand cleaning material onto one or morehands of the user.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. The Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention are illustrated by way of example and notlimited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numeralsindicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts one example hand cleaning device in accordance with oneillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts an example operation of a hand cleaning device from FIG.1 in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts another example of a hand cleaning device in accordancewith one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a different hand cleaning device in accordance with oneillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of an exampleimplementation of the hand cleaning device of FIG. 4 in accordance withone illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 depicts yet another implementation of an example hand cleaningdevice in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a cross-sectional sectional view of anexample implementation of the hand cleaning device of FIG. 6 inaccordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 8 depicts yet another implementation of an example hand cleaningdevice in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 9A-9G schematically depict a plurality of stages ofdegradation/decomposition of another example implementation of a handcleaning device in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of an example handcleaning device in accordance with yet another embodiment;

FIG. 11A-11B depicts a side view of a distal aspect of a digit of theuser;

FIG. 12 schematically depicts an example implementation of a handcleaning device in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 13 schematically depicts another implementation of a hand cleaningdevice in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 14 depicts an implementation of a hand cleaning device inoperation, and in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 15 depicts an implementation of a hand cleaning device inoperation, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 16 schematically depicts a hand cleaning device in accordance withone illustrative configuration;

FIG. 17 depicts a hand cleaning device in accordance with anotherillustrative embodiment.

The reader is advised that although certain implementations of cleaningdevices, such as those shown in FIGS. 1-17 may contain the dimensions orscale of those depicted or described herein, the drawings are not drawnto scale with respect to each and every embodiment within the scope ofthis disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure, inclusive ofthe claims, is not limited to the scale shown in the drawings, unlessotherwise explicitly indicated.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a device for reducing a level ofinfectious agents present on one or more appendages of a user. Althoughmany descriptive embodiments are described in reference to a human hand,those skilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure willreadily appreciate that these embodiments are not limited to humanhands, but rather encompass feet, and other human and non-humanappendages. For example, the inventors have envisioned veterinary usesof the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, the reader is advised that theembodiments disclosed herein are not limited to human hands, unlessexpressly indicated. In certain embodiments, a device may reduce thequantity and/or the infectious capabilities (e.g., through attenuation)of infectious agents present on one or more digits of a user,specifically reducing a level of infectious agents present on anunderside of a nail plate, and an area of hyponychium skin between afree margin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of a digit, suchas a finger, thumb and/or toe. In this regard, many embodimentsdescribed herein are discussed in reference to human fingers. Thoseskilled in the art with the benefit of this disclosure, however, willreadily appreciate that these embodiments are not limited to fingers,but may encompass at least one thumb and/or toe, alone or in combinationwith each other.

In the following description of various example structures, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and inwhich are shown by way of illustration various example nail cleaningdevice structures in accordance with the invention. Additionally, it isto be understood that other specific arrangements of parts andstructures may be utilized, and structural and functional modificationsmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “rear,” “side,”“underside,” “overhead,” and the like may be used in this specificationto describe various example features and elements of the invention,these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based onthe example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations intypical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed asrequiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation ofstructures in order to fall within the scope of this disclosure.

Additionally, while various embodiments are described in this disclosureand the accompanying figures, it will readily apparent to one ofordinary skill that other embodiments may be envisioned and/or variouscombinations of the elements depicted in the figures may be realizedwithout departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, asnoted above, the figures are not required to be drawn to scale, andwhere one or more implementations of cleaning devices for cleaning oneor more hands of a user are presented, it will be readily apparent tothose of skill that the embodiments described herein may be configuredfor use by users with differing hand sizes, and correspondingly,differing finger and thumb sizes. Accordingly, the one or moreembodiments of a hand cleaning device, or combinations of theembodiments described herein, may be configured to accommodate, amongothers, an average hand size of children aged between 4 years and 17years old, an average hand size of a grown adult, or an average handsize of a range of people aged from 4 years old to adulthood, and thelike. Yet, in other embodiments, devices may be sized to fit a human ofany age. Specific implementations may have discrete size groups that maybe configured for use by certain age groups. In yet other embodiments,one or more devices may be shaped and/or sized for use with non-humanbeings. Such implementations may be beneficial for veterinary use.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a hand cleaning device 10. In oneimplementation, hand cleaning device may be primarily configured as aunitary device for surrounding a part of every digit of both hands of auser simultaneously. In this exemplary embodiment, hand cleaning device10 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The cylinder may, such as inthe illustrated embodiment, resemble a puck-like structure. Othershapes, however, may be utilized. For example, certain implementationsmay be elliptical and/or oblong. In this regard, a user's hand often maynot be able to conform to a circular structure, such as when grippingsaid structure. Thus, certain embodiments, may use on or more irregularshapes that allow a user to better conform the placement of one or moredigits, palm, and/or entire hand to one or more structures. Looking toFIG. 1, the device 10 may include, among others, a first hand-placementstructure 12, and a second hand-placement structure 14. In oneembodiment, the hand-placement structure 12 and the secondhand-placement structure 14 may be mirror-images of each other. Device10 is further illustrated to include an optional divider structure 26.The divider structure may be a non-permeable barrier, yet in otherembodiments, distance alone, without a physical structure configuredspecifically to serve as a barrier, may serve as a barrier. As providedthroughout this disclosure, a distance between two locations of thedevice may be beyond a distance threshold that reduces and/or preventsthe risks of cross-contamination. In certain embodiments, a porousmaterial may even be utilized between two areas (either as a physicalbarrier specifically designed to be positioned between two locations, oralternatively, as part of the physical structure of the device that isnot specifically provided only as a barrier to prevent or reducecross-contamination. It is well known in the art that different porousstructures have different porosity. Thus, a porous structure may be usedin which its porosity characteristics reduce and/or preventcross-contamination due to the fact that the time it takes forcontaminates to travel through pores exceeds the estimated use time ofthe device.

In certain embodiments disclosed below, a separation length maycorrespond to a thickness of a permeable (or sponge-like) material,wherein migration of one or more infectious agents through saidthickness of said permeable material progresses at a rate that isgreater than an average time to clean one or more hands of a user usingcleaning device 10, and such that transmission of an infectious agentbetween two digits, two thumbs, or a finger and a thumb or any twodigits is reduced or prevented during usage. Expected forces acting onthe porous material(s) during use of the device may also be consideredwhen determining the ability to serve as structures/distances thatreduce or prevent cross-contamination. In other embodiments, a userpressing their digits down onto the material of device 10 may compress acompressible material, such that pores of the compressible materials areshut or otherwise substantially blocked by the force (and/or rotationalforce of the device) and thus reduces and/or preventscross-contamination, such as between different hands and/or differentdigits.

Looking again to FIG. 1, a first hand-placement structure 12 and asecond hand-placement structure 14 are shown with a plurality ofopenings (16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b). As shown in the example of FIG. 1,each opening may be configured to receive a digit, such as for example,a finger or thumb, a plurality of exterior outlets (20 a-20 b). Theseopenings which may generally be considered within a digit cleaningregion. The device may be configured to rotate, such as for example,along an axis of rotation 34. Axis 34 is shown for illustrative purposesonly and those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more otheraxis of rotation may be utilized. In this regard, axis 34 may beimplemented through one or more structures that permit two or morecomponents to rotate in relation to one another, such as a mechanicalstructure. Examples of exemplary structures are provided herein. Yet inother embodiments, one or more components of device 10 may be configuredto permit flexing and/or stretching of one or more components, such asfor example, the first and second hand placement structures, amongothers, without a specific predetermined axis of rotation. As depictedin the figures, including for example FIG. 2, hand cleaning device 10may be configured to clean one or more appendages, such as for example,a first hand 36 and/or a second hand 38 of the user. In particular,openings 18 a and 18 b may be configured to receive a first thumb 40 aand a second thumb 40 b, respectively, and openings 16 a-16 f configuredto receive fingers 42 a-42 f respectively. In one example, openings 16a-16 f and 42 a-42 f are configured to surround part of each digit ofeach hand of a user simultaneously.

It will be readily apparent to those of skill that hand cleaning device10 may be embodied with different configurations of openings. Forexample, first hand-placement structure 12 may comprise a number ofopenings (16 d-16 f and 18 b) on a surface 50 (wherein the surface 50corresponds, in one implementation, to a perimeter of a cylindricalshape of hand-placement structure 12, and wherein the surface 50 mayalternatively be referred to as a face 50 of hand cleaning device 10)that is less than, equal to, or greater than, a combined number offingers and thumb of a first hand 36 of the user. Similarly, secondand-placement structure 14 may comprise a number of openings (16 a-16 cand 18 a) that is less than, equal to, or greater than, a combinednumber of fingers and thumb of a second hand 38 of a user. In certainembodiments, face 50 may be a veneer or structure that merely providesguidance to the user for ideal or preferred spacing of one or moredigits. In this regard, there is no requirement in certain embodimentsthat one or more openings are defined by a connection between the face50 and the respective opening. In this regard, the device 10 may be“open faced” such that the device 10 is devoid of any structures atabout the face 50 that guide the user's digits into one or morepredetermined locations. Other portions of a hand placement structuremay include guides that assist the user is positioning their hand. Forexample, other surfaces may comprise one or more indentations or ridgesthat suggest proper placement of the user's hand and/or a portionthereof. As discussed throughout this disclosure, certain areas maycomprise one or more deformable materials configured to deform uponplacement of the user's hand or portion thereof.

In one implementation, an opening may be configured to receive any digitof a user, such as, for example opening 18 a may be configured toreceive thumb 40 a of a user. In another implementation, an opening maybe configured to receive a finger of a user, for example, opening 16 amay be configured to receive finger 42 a of a user. In yet anotherimplementation, an opening may be configured to receive any one of afinger, thumb, or any digit of a user, or multiple digits. Accordingly,the openings of device 10, such as openings 16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b maybe configured with a size that is equal to or greater than a width ofthe largest digit, e.g., finger, thumb, or toe of a user. In anotherimplementation, openings 16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b may be configured witha size that is less than a width of one or more digits of a user, andwherein the construction of device 10 is such that one or more openings16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b expand upon insertion of a finger or any digitof the user. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 10 may comprise one ormore deformable materials, and one or more openings 16 a-16 f and 18a-18 b may deform upon insertion of a finger or any digit of the user.As discussed above, face 50 may merely define specific locations forinsertion of digits; therefore, openings may not be present or partiallypresent, until a user presses their finger against the location set bythe face. Thus, in accordance with certain embodiments, the location ofat least a portion of a digit cleaning region may be dependent of theconfiguration and/or use of the device. In further embodiments, face 50may be partially or entirely absent. In one embodiment, location ofopenings will depend on the user's interaction with the device.

Returning to FIG. 1, in one implementation, cleaning device 10 may beconstructed from one or more materials including, among others, one ormore polymers, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, alloys, ceramics,plant material (for example, wood, or cellulose wood fibers, and thelike), natural sponges, synthetic materials that exhibit one or moreproperties of high compressibility, high absorbency, or a texture withabrasive qualities suitable for scrubbing skin (synthetic sponges),and/or combinations thereof. For example, in one implementation, thefirst hand-placement structure 12 and second hand-placement structure 14may be constructed from a polymer (for example, acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS)), and the divider structure 26 may be constructed from asynthetic sponge material. Additionally, the openings (16 a-16 f and 18a-18 b) may be aligned with one or more cavities of a digit cleaningregion, wherein said one or more cavities may be constructed from asame, or a different synthetic sponge material. In anotherimplementation, hand cleaning device 10 may be entirely constructed froma single material, for example, a synthetic sponge material. In variousembodiments, a digit cleaning region may encompass a portion of thehand-placement structures, including for example, an inner surface. Inyet other embodiments, which are described herein, there may not be adistinct division between a hand-placement region and a digit cleaningregion. In some embodiments, the digit cleaning region may be positionedbetween the first hand-placement structure's outer surface and thesecond hand-placement structure's outer surface. In certain embodiments,a digit cleaning region may be any area that, during intended or normaloperation of the device, is configured or intended to clean at least thedistal aspect of two or more digits of a user.

In one implementation, cleaning device 10 may have a separation length54 between two openings, such as, for example, opening 16 b and opening16 c. Separation length 54 may, in one implementation, be equal to anaverage separation between two digits of a user. For example, separationlength 54 may be equal to an average separation between digits 42 b and42 c, which, in turn, may correspond to an average hand size of a fullygrown adult. In other implementations, separation length 54 may equal anaverage separation between two digits of a user, which may a specificage group or population dynamic. Similarly, cleaning device 10 may havea separation length 56 between two openings, such as, for example, 16 cand 18 a. Separation length 56 may, in one implementation, be equal toan average separation between a finger and a thumb of a user, and thelike. In yet another implementation, separation length 54 and/orseparation length 56 may correspond to a thickness of a permeable (orsponge-like) material, wherein migration of one or more infectiousagents through said thickness of said permeable material progresses at arate that is greater than an average time to clean one or more hands ofa user using cleaning device 10, and such that transmission of aninfectious agent between two digits, two thumbs, or a finger and a thumbor any two digits is reduced or prevented during usage. In anotherembodiment, separation length 54 and/or separation length 56 maycorrespond to a thickness of an impermeable material, whereintransmission of one or more infectious agents through said impermeablematerial between, two digits, two thumbs, or any digit is substantiallyeliminated. In one embodiment, the separation length between twoopenings may be defined by a force exerted by the user using the device.In this regard, a user pressing their digits down onto the material ofdevice 10 may compress a compressible material, such that pores of thecompressible materials are shut or otherwise substantially blocked bythe force (and/or rotational force of the device) and thus, each digitdoes not contaminate an adjacent digit during use.

FIG. 2 depicts an example operation of a hand cleaning device, such asdevice 10 from FIG. 1, in accordance with one implementation. Inparticular, FIG. 2 depicts a first hand 36 and a second hand 38positioned on a first hand-placement structure 12, and a secondhand-placement structure 14, respectively. As depicted FIG. 2, one ormore openings 16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b may be aligned with one or morecavities, for receiving one or more respective fingers (42 a-42 f)and/or thumbs (40 a-40 b) of a user. In one embodiment, one or morecavities for receiving a finger and/or any digit of a user are depictedin FIG. 10, which is discussed in more detail later in this disclosure.One or more cavities may be configured with a depth dimension of atleast an average length of a distal digit or distal aspect of a user'sone or more fingers and/or thumbs. In this regard, reference to thedistal digit or a “distal aspect” of a finger, thumb, toes or any otherdigit refers to the portion of that digit. Thus, tissues and otheranatomical structures (e.g. nail band, etc.) of the distal digit shouldbe considered. For example, references to the length of the distalaspect should be interpreted as encompassing the tissue positionedaround the terminus of the distal digit. Further, reference tostructures or areas of a device, such as cavities, that are configuredto “envelop” or “surround” the distal aspect of a digit refer tostructures configured to receive the distal aspect/distal portion of thedigit and further comprising components, such as walls or formations,configured to or capable of being manipulated to form a perimeter aroundthe distal aspect/distal portion of the digit such that it is configuredto permit (via one or more mechanisms), the atraumatic cleaning of thedistal aspect of that digit during use of the device.

As best shown in FIG. 1, outlets 20 a and 20 b represent a plurality ofoutlets through which one or more cleaning agents/cleaning materials maybe released from within hand cleaning device 10. However, otherembodiments of hand cleaning device 10 may be envisioned, wherein firsthand-placement surface 22 comprises a single outlet (e.g., 20 a or 20b), or alternatively, first hand-placement surface 22 comprises adifferent configuration/pattern of outlets to those depicted in FIG. 1.In one implementation, a cleaning agent may comprise a hand sanitizer, adisinfectant solution, or a soap, and/or any material known in the artfor use in killing and/or removing infectious agents from skin.Additionally, while this disclosure may refer to a hand cleaning agent,those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that's such a handcleaning agent may be a cleaning agent designed for use on feet of theuser, or on another area of skin, without departing from thedescriptions of this disclosure. In certain embodiments, two or morecomponents may be combined to form the cleaning agent. In certainembodiments, at least one component may be water to serve as a diluent.In yet other embodiments, water alone may serve as the cleaning agent.In one embodiment, cleaning agent may be encapsulated within anenclosure structure of hand cleaning device 10. The enclosure structuremay be at least within one or both of first hand-placement structure 12and second hand-placement structure 14. In one implementation, duringoperation of hand cleaning device 10, such as depicted in FIG. 2,cleaning agent is released through one or more outlets (20 a and 20 b).

In one embodiment, and as depicted FIG. 2, when cleaning device 10 isin-use, a user's first hand 36 may be positioned on a firsthand-placement structure 12, and/or a second hand 38 of the same usermay be positioned on a second hand-placement structure 14. As shown inthe illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, a first palm (not shown due tofacing away from the viewer of the drawing) of said first hand 36 facestowards a second palm (not shown) of said second hand 38. As such,during operation, hand cleaning device 10 may release a cleaning agentonto one or more of said first palm and said second palm of a user'sfirst hand 36 and second hand 38, respectively, and through one or moreoutlets 20 a and 20 b. Additionally, cleaning device 10 may release acleaning agent through one or more interior outlets (not shown), whereinan interior outlet may be positioned within a cavity, such as a cavityaligned with an opening (16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b). As such, and asdescribed throughout this disclosure, hand cleaning device 10 mayrelease a cleaning agent onto one or more palms of a user, and whereinit is assumed that by releasing the cleaning agent onto a palm of ahand, a user may subsequently spread said cleaning agent across one ormore palms, fingers, thumbs, backs of the respective user's hands, andonto one or more wrist areas of the user, by, among others, subsequentlyrubbing one or more hands together.

As previously described, during operation of cleaning device 10, a usermay position a first hand 36 on a first hand-placement surface 22, and asecond hand 38 on a second hand-placement surface 24. In oneimplementation, upon positioning of one or more of said first hand 36and said second hand 38, a cleaning agent may be released through one ormore exterior outlets (20 a and 20 b), or interior outlets. Exampleinterior outlets are described below in at least in relation to FIGS.5-7.

As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 1, cleaning device 10 may comprisean axis of rotation 34. In one implementation, the first hand-placementstructure 12 is rotatably coupled to the second hand-placement structure14 by one or more of, a bearing, a mechanical gear mechanism, or by acoupling comprised of a flexible material that allows for a range ofmotion, including a rotational/twisting motion, among others. In oneimplementation, the first-hand-placement structure 12 may be displacedrelative to the second hand-placement structure 14 by a predeterminedamount, wherein said predetermined amount may be a predetermined length.In one embodiment, the predetermined length may be, among others, lessthan 1 cm, less than 2 cm, or less than 5 cm, and the like. Thoseskilled in the art will realize that these are merely example lengthsand the disclosure is not limited to such distances.

In certain implementations, the first hand-placement structure 12 andthe second hand-placement structure 14 may rotate in opposite directionsabout axis 34, as indicated by arrows 30 and 32 respectively. In oneimplementation, said first hand-placement structure 12 may rotate freelyrelative to said second hand-placement structure 14. In anotherimplementation, the range of motion of said first-hand-placementstructure 12 relative to said second hand-placement structure 14 islimited to a predetermined angle, and wherein said predetermined anglemay be, among others, about or less than 360°, less than 180°, or lessthan 120°, or other angles, such as 90 degrees or less than 90 degrees.In another implementation, however, the first hand-placement structure12 may be rigidly coupled to the second hand-placement structure 14.

Additionally, and as depicted in FIG. 2 by arrows 68 and 70, duringcertain envisioned operations of hand cleaning device 10, a user maymove one or more fingers (42 a-42 f) and/or thumbs (40 a-40 b) intorespective openings (16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b) of the device 10. (Ifopenings are not present, such as if face 50 is at least partiallyabsent, users may move fingers or thumbs into respective cavities orform cavities). In this exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, arrow 68represents a first thumb 40 b being moved into and out from opening 18b. This may occur as the user moves a first hand 36 in a rotationalmotion, as indicated by arrow 30. Accordingly, arrow 68 may be alignedwith a first radial direction of cleaning device 10. Similarly, arrow 70represents a motion of a second thumb 40 a into and out from opening 18a as said user simultaneously rotates a second hand 38 in a directionindicated by arrow 32. Furthermore, arrow 70 may be aligned with asecond radial direction of cleaning device 10.

As a user moves a finger and/or any digit into and out of an opening orcavity, such as for example, as indicated by arrows 68 and 70, saidfinger and/or digit may contact one or more surfaces of a cavity. Inthis way, contact between said moving finger and/or thumb and the one ormore surfaces of a cavity, may serve to reduce a level of infectiousagents on said finger and/or thumb. In one implementation, device 10, orone or more of device 70 depicted in FIG. 3, device 100, depicted inFIG. 4, device 140 depicted in FIG. 6, device 220 depicted in FIG. 8,device 300 depicted in FIG. 9, or device 63 depicted in FIG. 10 mayreduce a level of infectious agents present on a one or more areas ofskin of a user (those areas of skin including, among others, one or moreof a finger, thumb, toe, palm, or any other area of skin associated witha hand or a foot of a user). In one configuration, one or more ofdevices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300, or combinations orequivalents thereof, may reduce a level of infectious agents on an areaof skin, or within wounded cut or graze of a user, and by an amountcorresponding to one or more of a slight reduction, a substantialreduction, or an elimination of infectious agents. Accordingly, a slightreduction in a level of infectious agents may be at least a 10%reduction, and the like. A substantial reduction may be at least a 50%reduction, and the like. An elimination may be at least a 95% reduction.Additionally or alternatively, one or more of devices 10, 63, 70, 100,140, 220, and/or 300 may prevent transmission of an infectious agentbetween two areas of skin associated with a same user (e.g. between twodigits of a user), and/or between two users. Furthermore, it will bereadily understood to those of skill in the art that one or more ofdevices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300, or combinations orequivalents thereof may reduce a level of infectious agents on an areaof skin by removing the infectious agents from the skin, and/or byameliorating the infectious aspects of the infectious agents whileleaving part or all of the material associated with the agents in situon an area of skin of a user. For example, one or more of the devicesdescribed in this disclosure may kill bacteria or viruses, and the like,but some or all of the matter may remain on an area of skin of the userwithout the potential transmit one or more diseases to the user or otherindividuals.

In another implementation, one or more fingers (42 a-42 f) and/or thumbs(40 a-40 b) may be moved into and out from device 10 through one or morerespective openings (16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b) without rotational motionof device 10 about axis 34.

In one implementation, divider structure 26 (shown in FIG. 1) maycomprise a coupling between the first hand-placement structure 12 andthe second hand-placement structure 14. Additionally or alternatively,divider structure 26 may comprise any material for reducing oreliminating transmission of one or more infectious agents between saidfirst hand-placement structure 12 and said second hand-placementstructure 14.

In yet another implementation, a cleaning agent may be released fromcleaning device 10 onto one or more palms, fingers, or thumbs of one ormore hands of a user upon, among others, insertion of one or morefingers and/or thumbs into one or more openings (16 a-16 f and 18 a-18b) on said device 10, positioning of one or more of first hand 36 orsecond hand 38 onto device 10, or rotating the first hand-placementstructure 12 relative to the second hand-placement structure 14 about anaxis, e.g., axis 34. Accordingly, in one implementation, hand cleaningdevice 10 may comprise a material that encapsulates the hand cleaningagent. For example, hand cleaning device 10 may comprise one or moresponge-like materials, and wherein a cleaning agent may be containedwithin said one or more sponge-like materials. In anotherimplementation, a hand cleaning agent may be encapsulated within areservoir within hand cleaning device 10. In certain embodiments, thereservoir may be identical or similar to reservoirs 120, and 128 of theexample embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In yet another implementation, handcleaning device 10 may be manufactured without a cleaning agent, and/ora cleaning agent may be introduced onto/into cleaning device 10 duringuse.

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of a hand cleaning device 70.In particular, hand cleaning device 70 includes a first hand-placementstructure 82 with a first hand-placement surface 72, a secondhand-placement structure 84 with a second hand-placement surface 74 (notshown), a divider structure 76, a first channel 78, a second channel 80,a plurality of outlets (represented by outlets 90 a-90 b), alignmentstructures 86 a-86 h, and opening 88. In one implementation, cleaningdevice 70 may be similar to clean device 10 from FIG. 1 in one or moreaspects and/or comprise one or more materials including, among others,polymers, fiber-reinforced polymers, metals, alloys, ceramics, plantmaterial (for example, would, or cellulose wood fibers, and the like),natural sponges, synthetic materials that exhibit one or more propertiesof high compressibility, high absorbency, or texture with abrasivequalities suitable for scrubbing skin (synthetic sponges), orcombinations thereof.

Similarly to cleaning device 10 from FIG. 1, the first hand-placementstructure 82 of device 70 may, in certain embodiments, be coupled to thesecond hand-placement structure 84 by a rigid coupling, a rotatablecoupling, or a flexible coupling, and such that the first hand-placementstructure 82 may move relative to the second hand-placement structure84.

In one implementation, cleaning device 70 may release a cleaning agentfrom one or more of outlets 90 a-90 b, and wherein outlets 90 a-90 b mayrepresent a plurality of outlets, or alternatively, a single outlet, onthe first hand-placement surface 72. Additionally, it will be readilyapparent to those of skill that the pattern of outlets 90 a-90 b ismerely one of a plurality of different patterns of outlets of outlets(90 a-90 b) on the first hand-placement surface 72 that are conceivablewithout departing from the scope of this disclosure.

In another implementation, hand cleaning device 70 may comprise adivider structure 76 separating the first hand-placement structure 82from the second hand-placement structure 84. The divider structure 76may comprise one or more of an impermeable material, or a semipermeable,or a permeable material, such that divider structure 76 is configured toreduce or eliminate transmission or migration of one or more infectiousagents between the first hand-placement structure 82 and the secondhand-placement structure 84.

The illustrated example of hand cleaning device 70 is shown with a firstchannel 78 and a second channel 80. Accordingly, in one example, a usermay insert one or more fingers and/or thumbs into the first channel 78and the second channel 80 in order to reduce or prevent a level ofinfectious agents present on one or more hands and specifically, on oneor more distal digits, of the user. In one implementation, the firsthand-placement structure 82 comprises a plurality of alignmentstructures 86 a-86 d, wherein a hand alignment structure 86 a-86 d maycomprise a groove in a sidewall of the first hand-placement structure82. Accordingly, the plurality of alignment structures 86 a-86 d maypromote separation of one or more digits, e.g., fingers, toes and/orthumbs of a user. Additionally, it will be readily apparent to those ofskill that the depicted four alignment structures 86 a-86 d mayrepresent a plurality of alignment structures less than, or greater thanthose four depicted. In one embodiment, an alignment structure (86 a-86d) may promote/encourage a separation distance between two adjacentdigits of a user such that transmission of one or more infectious agentsbetween a first digit and a second digit is reduced or eliminated.Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of skill that thesecond hand-placement structure 84 may operate in a similar manner tothe first-hand-placement structure 82.

Similar to hand cleaning device 10 from FIG. 2, a user may periodicallyinsert and remove one or more fingers and/or thumbs into and out fromchannel, such as channel 78 or channel 80. In one implementation, afinger and/or any digit aligned with alignment structure 86 h may moveinto an out from channel 80 along radial direction 92. In anotherimplementation, hand cleaning device 70 includes an opening 88 forreceiving a thumb or any digit of a user. Accordingly, opening 88 mayprovide for an ergonomic grip of hand cleaning device 70. As such, auser may periodically insert and remove any digit into and out fromopening 88 in order to reduce a level of infectious agents on the skinof any digit, and in a substantially axial direction indicated by arrow94.

In one embodiment, a user may operate hand cleaning device 70 bypositioning a left hand on the first hand-placement surface 72 and aright hand on the second hand-placement surface 74. As such, in oneexample, one or more fingers of the user's left hand may be aligned withrespective alignment structures 86 a-86 d, and the user's left thumb maybe aligned with opening 88. Furthermore, when positioned on the firsthand-placement surface 72 and the second hand-placement surface 74, apalm of a user's left hand faces towards a palm of said user's righthand. Additionally, as a user moves one or more fingers and/or thumbsinto the first channel 78, the second channel 80, or opening 88, one ormore surfaces/areas of skin of one or more respective fingers and/orthumbs of the user may contact one or more surfaces of the cleaningdevice 70, and thereby reducing or eliminating a level of infectiousagents on the respective areas of skin.

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of a hand cleaning device—device 100.In particular, hand cleaning device 100 includes a first hand-placementstructure 102, a second hand-placement structure 104, a plurality ofoutlets 106 a-106 d, a divider structure 108, a first channel 110, and asecond channel 112. In one implementation, hand cleaning device 100 mayoperate in a similar manner to hand cleaning device 10 shown in FIG. 1and/or hand cleaning device 70 shown in FIG. 3. As such, hand cleaningdevice 100 may reduce or eliminate a level of infectious agents on oneor more areas of skin of the user by bringing one or more fingers,thumbs, or other areas of one or more hands of the user into contactwith one or more cleaning surfaces of cleaning device 100, or a cleaningagent. For example, a user may position a first hand on firsthand-placement structure 102, and a second hand on the secondhand-placement structure 104. Accordingly, a user may insert one or morefingers and/or thumbs of said first-hand into the first channel 110 andsimilarly, one or more fingers and/or thumbs of said second hand intothe second channel 112. Also, finger grooves or guides (and/or otherstructures), which in one embodiment may appear on the hand-placementstructures, may be configured to facilitate cleaning of those oftenneglected areas between one or more digits.

In one implementation, upon insertion of one or more fingers and/orthumbs into the first channel 110 and/or the second channel 112, saidinserted fingers and/or thumbs may come and contact with a cleaningagent released from one or more outlets (not shown), or one or morecleaning surfaces of cleaning device 100. For example, the first channel110, and the second channel 112 may comprise one or more materialsconfigured to contact an area of skin in order to reduce the level ofinfectious agents present on said area of skin. In this way, the firstchannel 110, and the second channel 112 may comprise one or morematerials with abrasive properties, antibacterial properties,hypoallergenic properties, and/or absorbent properties configured toclean the skin of a user.

In one implementation outlets 106 a-106 d are configured to release acleaning agent onto the one or more palms of a user for reducing a levelof infectious agents on a surface area of skin associated with one ormore hands of the user. In another implementation, the first channel 110on the second channel 112 are configured with respective widths 114 and116 that are less than a thickness of one or more fingers and/or thumbsof the user. As such, deformation of a material (such as for examplecompression of sponge-like material) may occur upon insertion of afinger and/or thumb into one or more of the first channel 110 or thesecond channel 112, wherein said deformation increases a surface area ofcleaning device 100 in contact with a surface area of one or morefingers and/or thumbs of a user.

The example hand cleaning device 100 from FIG. 4 is depicted with asubstantially spherical shape. In one implementation, cleaning device100 partially or wholly comprises a deformable (sponge-like) material.As such, in one embodiment, hand cleaning device 100 may be stored in acompressed state/configuration (stored at a pressure less than ambientpressure and/or under compressive forces) within a retaining structure,such as for example wrapper material (not shown) such that the volume ofhand cleaning device 100 is reduced during storage. For example, handcleaning device 100 may be stored in a compressed state with a shapethat is substantially cylindrical, for example, such as similar to handcleaning device 70 from FIG. 3. Accordingly, upon opening of handcleaning device 100, a compressed shape may expand into an uncompressedshape at an ambient pressure or upon less compressive forces (such as,for example, a standard atmospheric pressure of 101.325 kPa), such asthat substantially spherical shape depicted in FIG. 4. In oneembodiment, a twisting or rotational force may cause the structure toexpand from compressed state to an expanded state. In certainembodiments, this may be configured to occur without the need for aretaining structure. Twisting and/or rotational forces may also causethe release of agents.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of an example handcleaning device, such as for example, device 100 shown in FIG. 4. Inparticular, FIG. 5 depicts an internal view of an example firsthand-placement structure 102, the second hand-placement structure 104,the first channel 110, and the second channel 112. Additionally, FIG. 5depicts a first reservoir 120, a first external duct 124, a firstinternal duct 122, a second external duct 130, and a second internalduct 126.

In one implementation, the first reservoir 120 and the second reservoir128 may encapsulate a cleaning agent, such as one or more of thosepreviously described. As such, the first reservoir 120 and the secondreservoir 128 may be agent-filled capsules. In an alternativeembodiment, however, reservoirs 120 and 128 may represent a mass ofcleaning agent encapsulated within the first hand-placement structure102 and the second hand-placement structure 104, wherein said structures102 and 104 comprise one or more absorbent materials, and a cleaningagent is retained within said one or more absorbent materials. Thus, thestructure itself comprises the reservoir.

In one embodiment, the first reservoir 120 and/or the second reservoir128 may release a cleaning agent into one or more of the first externalduct 124, the first internal duct 122, the second external duct 130, orthe second internal duct 126. As such, ducts 122, 124, 126, and 130 maycomprise, among others one or more tubes within hand cleaning device100, and/or may represent one or more pores of a porous material throughwhich a cleaning agent may permeate. Accordingly, said first externalduct 124 and said second external duct 130 may release one or morecleaning agents through one or more of a plurality of outlets, such asthose outlets represented by outlets 106 a-106 d in FIG. 4. Similarly,said first internal duct 122 and said second internal duct 126 mayrelease a cleaning agent into the first channel 110 and the secondchannel 112, respectively, through one or more outlets (not shown).

Additionally, the first reservoir 120 and the second reservoir 128 mayrelease one or more cleaning agents through one or more of ducts 122,124, 126, and/or 130 as a result of, among others, rotation of the firsthand-placement structure 102 relative to the second hand-placementstructure 104 (e.g., about an axis of rotation similar to axis ofrotation 34 from FIG. 1 and cleaning device 10). As such, rotation ofthe first-hand-placement structure 102 relative to the secondhand-placement structure 104 may engage one or more release mechanismsto force a cleaning agent through one or more of ducts 122, 124, 126,and/or 130. Additionally, hand cleaning device 100 may release one ormore cleaning agents onto one or more areas of a hand of a user(fingers, thumbs, palms, and the like) as a result of contact between afirst and/or a second hand, and hand cleaning device 100. In this way,hand cleaning device 100 may comprise one or more sponge-like materialsin which one or more cleaning agents are encapsulated (as previouslydescribed), and a user may deform (compress/squeeze) hand cleaningdevice 100 in order to release one or more cleaning agents.Additionally, and cleaning device 100 may comprise one or more masses ofcleaning agent encapsulated within one or more reservoirs (120, 130),wherein said one or more reservoirs are ruptured, and subsequentlyrelease the encapsulated cleaning agent upon operation of hand cleaningdevice 100. For example, the hand cleaning device 100 may comprise oneor more capsules of cleaning agent, and said one or more capsules ofcleaning agent may be ruptured (releasing the cleaning agent) as a usercompresses/twists the first hand-placement structure 102 and the secondhand-placement structure 104 with one or more hands.

FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of an example hand cleaningdevice—device 140. However, the operation and construction of handcleaning device 140 may be similar to hand cleaning device 10 from FIG.1, and hand cleaning device 70 from FIG. 3, and/or hand cleaning device100 from FIG. 4. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 140 includes a firsthand-placement structure 141, a second hand-placement structure 142, afirst channel 144, a second channel 146, a first lip structure 150, anda second lip structure 152. Accordingly, in one implementation, FIG. 6depicts an end view of said hand cleaning device 140, wherein handcleaning device 140 may comprise a substantially cylindrical shape.

In one embodiment, a user may operate hand cleaning device 140 byperiodically inserting and removing one or more fingers and/or thumbsinto and out from the first channel 144 and/or the second channel 146.In one implementation, hand cleaning device 114 may release a cleaningagent into said first channel 144 and said second channel 146 uponinsertion of one or more fingers and/or thumbs, wherein the cleaningagent may reduce or eliminate a level of infectious agents present onone or more areas of skin of the one or more inserted fingers and/orthumbs, and in particular, reduce or eliminate a level of infectiousagents present on an area of skin on one or more distal aspects of oneor more fingers and/or thumbs.

In certain implementations, the first lip structure 150 and the secondlip structure 152 may be configured such that during usage of thedevice, there is an increased surface area of hyponychium skin that isexposed to a cleaning agent. Specifically, the first lip structure 150and the second lip structure 152 may increase a surface area ofhyponychium skin that is exposed to the cleaning agent between a freemargin and an onychodermal band of a finger or any digit, therebyreducing a level of infectious agents present on said area ofhyponychium skin. Example embodiments are further described in relationto FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B. In another configuration, a lip structure maybe formed in a hand cleaning device upon insertion of one or more digitsinto the device. Accordingly, said device may comprise one or morecompressible and/or deformable materials. Upon insertion of one or moredigits, the materials may conform to a shape of the one or more digits,and contact one or more areas of skin close to, and/or under a nail ofthe user. Accordingly, the one or more materials may contact an area ofhyponychium skin, and/or one or more other areas of skin close to a nailof a user. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more materials fromwhich a hand cleaning device is constructed may have one or morediffering properties of rigidity, compressibility, and/or density suchthat, upon insertion of a digit of the user into the device, a lipstructure is formed around the digit with a structure similar to that oflip structure 150 and/or 152.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a cross-sectional view of a hand cleaningdevice, which may be device 140 from FIG. 6 in certain embodiments.Accordingly, FIG. 7 depicts the first hand-placement structure 141, thesecond hand-placement structure 142, the first channel 144, the secondchannel 146, the first lip structure 150, and the second lip structure152. Additionally, FIG. 7 depicts a first reservoir 160, a secondreservoir 162, a first exterior outlet 164, a second exterior outlet,and interior outlet system 168. Similarly to FIG. 5, the first reservoir160 and the second reservoir 162 may represent elements forencapsulating one or more cleaning agents. Additionally oralternatively, the first and the second reservoirs 160 and 162,respectively, may represent a mass of cleaning agent encapsulated withina material, such as a porous, absorbent, sponge-like material.Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of skill that handcleaning device 140 may alternatively be embodied with a singlereservoir, or a plurality of reservoirs in excess of the two reservoirs(160, 162) depicted in FIG. 7.

Exterior outlets 164 and 166 may be similar to exterior outlets 124 and130 from FIG. 5, wherein exterior outlets 164 and 166 may facilitaterelease of one or more cleaning agents onto one or more palms of a user.Similarly, interior outlet system 168 may represent one or more conduitsfor release of one or more cleaning agents into the first channel 144and the second channel 146 for contact with one or more digits of auser. In another implementation, however, interior outlet system 168 mayrepresent one or more pores of a porous material encapsulating one ormore cleaning agents, and wherein the encapsulated one or more cleaningagents may be released onto one or more digits, e.g., fingers toesand/or thumbs of a user upon contact of the porous material with saidfingers, toes and/or thumbs.

FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment of a hand cleaning device 220. Assuch, FIG. 8 depicts a substantially spherical hand cleaning device 220having outlets 221 a-221 b, a first surface 222, a lip structure 224, asecond surface 226, a seam 228, and a cleaning surface 229. In oneimplementation, a user may grip hand cleaning device 220 with one ormore hands positioned on the first surface 222. Accordingly, a user mayposition one or more distal aspects of one or more digits, e.g.,fingers, toes and/or thumbs across seam 228. In this way, hand cleaningdevice 220 is configured with seam 228 similar to a sports ball, andaccordingly, may be gripped similarly to how a user would grip a sportsball, such as a baseball, a softball, or a tennis ball, among others.Accordingly, hand cleaning device 220 may have a diameter measuringapproximately 75 mm, and other dimensions of balls and/or other sportingobjects generally used.

In one implementation, hand cleaning device 220 may comprise a pluralityof outlets, represented by outlets 221 a-221 b, which may be similar tooutlets 20 a-20 b shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 220may encapsulate a mass of cleaning agent within the device, for releasethrough the plurality of outlets 221 a-221 b. In another implementation,the second surface 226 may comprise a material with abrasive propertiesfor scrubbing one or more areas of one or more hands of the user, andthereby reducing a level of infectious agents present on a user's hands.In another implementation, a user may position one or more digits, e.g.,fingers, toes and/or thumbs on an optional lip structure 224, whereinlip structure 224 may be similar to lip structure 210 from FIG. 11B incertain embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, cleaning device 220may comprise one or more materials that exhibit compressibility suchthat a user may deform one or more of the first surface 224 and thesecond surface 226 by periodically moving one or more digits into andout from one or more of said surfaces 222 and 226 and/or cleaningsurface 229. Furthermore, a user may move one or more fingers and/orthumbs back and forth along seam 228, thereby bringing one or more areasof the user's hands into contact with cleaning surfaces (222 and 226) ofcleaning device 220.

FIG. 9A-9G schematically depict a plurality of stages ofdegradation/decomposition of another embodiment of a hand cleaningdevice—device 300. In particular, FIG. 9A depicts a first hand 302 and asecond hand 304 in contact with hand cleaning device 300, wherein handcleaning device 300 is in a first, fully-formed configuration,represented by configuration 300A.

In one implementation, hand cleaning device 300 may comprise one or moresimilar materials or properties to one or more of hand cleaning device10 from FIG. 1, hand cleaning device 70 from FIG. 3, hand cleaningdevice 100 from FIG. 4, and hand cleaning device 140 from FIG. 6. In oneembodiment, hand cleaning device 300 may comprise a degradable materialsuch as, among others, melamine foam. Accordingly, hand cleaning device300 may chemically and/or physically breakdown during one or moreprocesses to clean one or more hands of a user. As such, hand cleaningdevice 300 may comprise a material that breaks down at a rate that issimilar to a time for thorough cleaning of one or more hands of a user.In one implementation, this degradable material may breakdown afterapproximately 30 seconds, one minute, or two minutes, and/or other timeframes of contact with one or more hands of the user. The density and/ormaterial composition of the device may not be uniform in certainembodiments, thus resulting in a variable decomposition rate. A variabledecomposition rate may result in a degradation profile that isconfigured to permit cleaning of certain areas and/or longer duration ofcleaning for certain areas.

In a similar manner to the operation of cleaning devices 10, 70, 100,and 140 previously described, a user may move a first and/or a secondhand (302 and/or 304, respectively) relative to cleaning device 300 byrotational motion (represented by arrows 306 and 308) and/or linearmotion (represented by arrows 310 and 312). Accordingly, cleaning device300 may breakdown as a result of exposure to an agent, such as acleaning agent, which may be associated with or without friction betweenone or more fingers, thumbs, palms, and/or other areas of a user's handwith the device 300. As discussed above, those of ordinary skill in theart will understand that two or more components may be combined to formthe cleaning agent; at least one component may be water to serve as adiluent; and/or water alone may serve as the cleaning agent. In oneembodiment, cleaning agent may be encapsulated within an enclosurestructure of hand cleaning device 10.

FIG. 9B depicts a second stage of degradation of hand cleaning device300. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 300 is depicted in aconfiguration 300B. As one or more cleaning processes progress further,hand cleaning device 300 may breakdown/degrade into configurationssimilar to those depicted by configurations 300C in FIG. 9C, 300D fromFIG. 9D, and 300E and 300F from FIG. 9E. Accordingly, at FIG. 9F, handcleaning device 300 may be in a configuration similar to 300G, wherein auser may move the hand cleaning device 300 between one or more hands 302and 304 in a circular (or otherwise) motion represented by arrow 320. Asdepicted in FIG. 9G, cleaning device 300 has completely broken down intoa configuration represented by 300H, wherein cleaning device 300 may bewiped off of one or more hands 302 and 304 of the user. During the oneor more stages of degradation of hand cleaning device 300, representedby configurations 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D, 300E, and 300F of FIG. 9A-9E,hand cleaning device 300 may reduce a level of, or eliminate, infectiousagents present on one or more areas of a user's hand by bringing saidareas into contact with an abrasive, antibacterial surface of handcleaning device 300, or by releasing one or more cleaning agents on to auser's hand from hand cleaning device 300, during degradation. Thecleaning agents may sterilize areas as the device breaks down and/orattenuate living organisms present in the debris.

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic cross-sectional view of a hand cleaningdevice—device 63. In one implementation, hand cleaning device 63 may besimilar to hand cleaning device 10 from FIG. 1. In particular, handcleaning device 63 may comprise a substantially circular cross-section65. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 63 may be embodied with asubstantially cylindrical and/or spherical shape, among others.Additionally, hand cleaning device 63 may comprise a plurality ofsectors (62 a-62 g), wherein a sector is alternatively referred to as acavity (62 a-62 g), and configured to receive one or more digits of auser, such as through an opening, such as openings 16 a-16 f and 18 a-18b from FIG. 1, if present.

In one implementation, a cavity of cleaning device 63 may be configuredwith a depth dimension 66, wherein depth dimension 66 may measure atleast an average length of the distal digit of the user's one or morefingers and/or thumbs. Accordingly, in one implementation, depthdimension 66 may be configured to measure an average size of a distaldigit of an adult user. In another implementation, depth dimension 66may be configured to measure an average size of a distal digit of usersof variable ages. In yet another implementation, depth dimension 66 maymeasure at least 3.5 cm.

In one embodiment, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 may represent across-sectional view of the first hand-placement structure 12, or thesecond hand-placement structure 14 of cleaning device 10. As such, acavity (62 a-62 g) may align with an opening 16 a-16 f and 18 a-18 b, asdepicted in FIG. 1. Furthermore, while eight cavities (62 a-62 g) aredepicted in FIG. 10, it will be readily apparent to those of skill thatcleaning device 63 may be embodied with a fewer or a greater number ofcavities than those depicted. For example, cleaning device 63 may beembodied with five cavities corresponding to four fingers and a thumb ofone hand of a user. In one such embodiment, one cavity may havedifferent dimensions than at least one other cavity. For example, acavity configured to receive a thumb may be larger and/or differentlyshaped than a cavity intended to receive a finger.

FIG. 10 schematically depicts a divider structure 64 between cavities(62 a-62 g). In one implementation, divider structure 64 may comprise animpermeable material. In another implementation, divider structure maycomprise a semipermeable, or a permeable material, wherein thepermeability of the material is such that transmission or migration ofinfectious agents from a first cavity to a second adjoining cavity islonger than the time for cleaning one or more hands of a user, usingcleaning device 63.

Additionally, it will be readily apparent to those of skill pastcavities 62 a-62 g may be embodied with different shapes to thosesectors depicted in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 10.Accordingly, cavities 62 a-62 g may be embodied with a substantiallyrectangular, or square shapes, and the like, when viewed as across-section, similar to that view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11A depicts a side view of a distal aspect of digit 200 or anydigit of a user. In particular, 11A depicts a nail plate 206 having afree margin 202, an onychodermal band 204, and a hyponychium 208(otherwise referred to as an area of hyponychium skin 208). FIG. 11Bdepicts a similar side view of distal digit 200 as FIG. 11A, and furtherincludes a lip structure 210 in contact with the distal digit 200,wherein lip structure 210 may be similar or identical to lip structures150 and/or 152 shown in FIG. 6.

In particular, FIG. 11B depicts an increase in an area of hyponychiumskin (from area 208 to an increased area 209) exposed as a result ofcontact between the distal digit 200 and a lip structure, such as lipstructure 210. Lip structure 210 may be configured, such as through itsposition, size, and shape to exert a force upon at least a portiondistal digit 200, thereby exposing an increased area of hyponychium skin209. Accordingly, FIG. 11B schematically depicts a mechanism by which,among others, cleaning device 140 may reduce a level of infectiousagents present on an area of skin of a user by, in one implementation,exposing an increased area of hyponychium skin to be cleaned by acleaning device, and optionally cleaning agent from the cleaning device.

Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of skill that a lipstructure, such as lip structure 210, may additionally or alternativelybe utilized in a manner similar to a nail pick, wherein lip structure210 may contact an underside of nail plate 206 at the free margin 202 toreduce infectious agents and/or debris underneath the nail plate 206.

FIG. 12 schematically depicts an alternative configuration of a handcleaning device 1200. Hand cleaning device 1200 may comprise one or morematerials and/or operating characteristics similar, or identical to oneor more elements described in relation to device 10 is depicted in FIG.1, device 70 depicted in FIG. 3, device 100, depicted in FIG. 4, device140 depicted in FIG. 6, device 220 depicted in FIG. 8, device 300depicted in FIG. 9, and/or device 63 depicted in FIG. 10. Accordingly,device 1200 may have a first hand-placement structure 1202 and a secondhand-placement structure 1206 (which may be similar to the firsthand-placement structure 12 and second hand-placement structure 14 fromFIG. 1, respectively), and wherein said first hand-placement structure1202 and said second hand-placement structure 1206 may be spaced apart,and having a channel 1204 there between (which may be similar to channel78 or channel 80 from FIG. 3).

FIG. 13 schematically depicts an alternative implementation of a handcleaning device 1300. In one implementation, hand cleaning device 1300may be similar to hand cleaning device 1200 from FIG. 12. Additionallyor alternatively, hand cleaning device 1300 may comprise one or morematerials, elements, and/or functions described in relation to one ormore of devices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300. As depicted inFIG. 13, and cleaning device 1300 may retain a hand cleaning agent 1302,schematically depicted within hand cleaning device 1300 by dotted lines.

FIG. 14 schematically depicts one implementation of a hand cleaningdevice 1400 in operation. In particular, FIG. 14 depicts a first hand1404 and a second hand 1406 in contact with the exemplary embodiment ofa hand cleaning device 1400. Accordingly, cleaning device 1400 may besimilar, or identical to one or more of hand cleaning devices 1200and/or 1300. Additionally, cleaning device 1400 may comprise one or moreelements from one or more of those devices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220,and/or 300, and may release a cleaning agent onto one or more areas ofskin of a user during operation, as depicted in FIG. 14 as cleaningagent 1402 is released onto the second hand 1406 of a user.

FIG. 15 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of a hand cleaningdevice 1500 in operation. Cleaning device 1500 may be similar to one ormore of cleaning device 1200, 1300, and/or 1400 of FIG. 12, FIG. 13,and/or FIG. 14, respectively. In particular, FIG. 15 schematicallydepicts one or more digits (one exemplary digit labeled as digit 1502)being cleaned by cleaning device 1500.

FIG. 16 schematically depicts a hand cleaning device 1600. Accordingly,cleaning device 1600 may comprise one or more elements described inrelation to one or more of devices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or300. Cleaning device 1600 is depicted as having a plurality of alignmentstructures, such as alignment structures 1604 and 1606, and which may besimilar to alignment structures 86 a-86 h from FIG. 3. Additionally,cleaning device 1600 may have a reservoir 1602 containing a volume of acleaning agent, wherein said reservoir, in one configuration, may have atransparent, or a partially transparent window through which an amountof cleaning agent remaining within cleaning device 1600 may be visuallyinspected by a user.

FIG. 17 schematically depicts an alternative implementation of a handcleaning device 1700. Hand cleaning device 1700 may be similar to one ormore of devices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300, or combinationsthereof. Accordingly, hand cleaning device 1700 may have a substantiallyoval shape, and/or may comprise a single deformable material, and thelike. In one implementation, hand cleaning device 1700 comprises aplurality of alignment structures, wherein an alignment structure, suchas that alignment structure 1702, may be configured as a dimple on asurface of hand cleaning device 1700, and configured to receive a fingertip of a user (or an end of any one or more digit of a user).

Multiple configurations of innovative cleaning devices have beendisclosed. Although various configurations have been illustrated incontext of certain figures or example implementations, those of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that one or more different combinationsare possible. In this regard, a device incorporating innovative aspectsof this disclosure may include one or more of the following properties,which may be implemented alone or in combination with each other and/orone or more embodiments described above:

In one exemplary embodiment, a device, such as but not limited todevices 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300, may be constructed fromat least partially compressible materials configured to retain orreceive a cleaning agent. In yet another embodiment, the systems andmethods described herein include a device configured to retain orreceive a cleaning agent for expression (output) onto one or more handsof a user, or part thereof, and for atraumatic cleaning.

In another embodiment, a device, such as but not limited to devices 10,63, 70, 100, 140, 220, and/or 300, or combinations thereof, may beconfigured to accept one or more digits for cleaning the digits in anatraumatic manner.

In another embodiment, In another embodiment, devices such as but notlimited to devices 70 and 100, may be configured with a single channelpositioned, with respect to the horizontal axis, between the firsthand-placement structure's outer surface and the second hand-placementstructure's outer surface to accept one or more digits for cleaning thedigits in an atraumatic manner.

In another implementation, this disclosure relates to a device thatcomprises pores or porous materials configured such that, upon use,allow a cleaning agent to be expressed (e.g., outputted) into a materialof the device and then on to one or more hands (or part thereof) of auser. The expression of one or more agents may be into regions,channels, or areas for exposure to and cleaning of one or more digits ofthe user.

In another configuration, a device has regions, channels, and/orcavities that may be configured to receive one or more digits of a user,wherein the regions, channels and/or cavities are comprised of acompressible material that compresses and conforms to a shape of a oneor more digits, thereby surrounding the one or more digits and one ormore areas surrounding one or more nails of the user. One or moreregions, channels and/or cavities may comprise of soft bristle-likematerials, that essentially surround the one or more digits (or portionsthereof, such as the distal digit) and/or one or more areas surroundingone or more nails of the user. Furthermore, said device conforms to ashape of one or more digits in an atraumatic manner.

In one exemplary embodiment, the systems and methods described hereininclude a device, such as, but not limited to, devices 10, 63, 70, 100,140, 220, and/or 300, that has a first configuration. The device may beat a compressed state in the first configuration. In one embodiment, thedevice exhibits an outer perimeter having a first shape when positionedat the first configuration, which may differ from the shape of the outerperimeter when at a different (e.g., a second) configuration. As oneexample, the device may comprise a cylindrical and/or disk-shaped outerperimeter while at the first configuration, and a second configurationexhibits an oval or spherical shape. In certain embodiments, the devicemay be configured to transition from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration, and/or vice versa, by one or more of unfolding,untwisting, and/or release of compression due to, in one example,exposure to ambient pressure, releasing agents, and/or combinationsthereof.

In another embodiment, the systems and methods described herein includea barrier and/or a spacing and/or a change in material density between apair of digits to prevent or decrease transmission of contaminatedsubstances, such as for example, between two digits, which may be on asame hand, or on two different hands.

In one configuration, a device may comprise a degradable material. Theentire device may consist of, or consist essentially of degradablematerial(s). The device may comprise a first degradable materialconfigured to degrade at a first rate during normal use and a seconddegradable material configured to degrade at a second rate during normaluse. Degradation may be influenced by time, friction, contact with oneor more substances or materials and/or combinations thereof.

In another configuration, the device may comprise anti-pathogenicmaterials. A device may comprise, consist of or consist essentially ofan intrinsically anti-pathogenic material. In one configuration, anintrinsically anti-pathogenic material may be silver, and the like.

In yet another configuration, a hand cleaning device may besubstantially-comprised of an anti-pathogenic material, such as at least90% by weight.

In yet another implementation, a cleaning agent comprises a material forsubstantially attenuating amount of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and thelike.

In one implementation, a cleaning agent comprises a solid, a liquid,and/or a gas (including combinations thereof and/or transitional statessuch as foams, gels, etc). In another implementation, a cleaning agentcomprises a plasma. In yet another implementation, a cleaning agentcomprises a moisturizing component/material and/or a fragrance.

In one example, a cleaning agent is contained within a reservoir andreleased upon use of a device, such as device 10, 63, 70, 100, 140, 220,and/or 300. The cleaning device, in one example, is pre-treated with acleaning agent, which may include premoistening the device for use uponopening, or may allow for the addition of one or more components,including but not limited to, water, either alone or with one or moreagents, which may be added just prior to or at the time of use. Thefollowing clauses provide example embodiments according to variousimplementations:

-   -   1. A hand cleaning device, comprising:    -   a device enclosure structure, further comprising:        -   a first hand-placement structure; and        -   a second hand-placement structure;        -   a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings            are spaced apart on a face of the device enclosure            structure;    -   a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity is aligned with a        respective opening, and wherein each cavity is configured to        receive a digit of a user; and    -   a barrier positioned between at least a pair of adjacent        cavities and between the first and second hand placement        structures, wherein the barrier comprises a material with a        varying density, and said barrier is configured to substantially        reduce a transmission of pathogens between adjacent cavities, as        well as between the first and second hand placement structures.    -   2. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising a        cleaning agent that is anti-pathogenic and is a liquid, dry,        gaseous as well as moisturizing properties.    -   3. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising a        cleaning agent that is anti-pathogenic and is a solid.    -   4. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising a        cleaning agent that is anti-pathogenic and is a gas.    -   5. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising a        cleaning agent that has one or moisturizing properties.    -   6. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising:    -   a reservoir configured to retain a cleaning agent, wherein the        cleaning agent is released into a plurality of cavities and the        device enclosure structure until the device is used by the user.    -   7. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising: a        release mechanism configured to release a cleaning agent from a        reservoir through one or more of a plurality of exterior and        interior outlets, and into the device enclosure structure and        the plurality of cavities.    -   8. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the release        mechanism is configured to release the cleaning agent upon        compressive movement of the first hand placement structure        relative to the second hand placement structure.    -   9. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the device        enclosure structure is substantially disk-like in shape.    -   10. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the device        enclosure structure is substantially cylindrical in shape.    -   11. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the device        comprises a compressible material and the device has        substantially cylindrical shape when in a compressed        configuration, and expands into a substantially spherical shape        upon activation by unfolding, untwisting, or exposure to change        in ambient pressure.    -   12. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the device        comprises intrinsically anti-pathogenic materials.    -   13. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein an exterior        outlet positioned on the face of the device enclosure structure        and configured to release a cleaning agent on to a hand of the        user, and an interior outlet positioned in one or more of the        plurality of cavities is configured to release the cleaning        agent on to one or more digits of the user.    -   14. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the at least        one hand placement structure comprises a porous material, and        wherein at least one of the plurality of exterior outlets or the        plurality of interior outlets comprises pores of said porous        material.    -   15. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the first hand        placement structure is rotatably coupled to the second hand        placement structure such that the first hand placement structure        is configured to rotate relative to the hand placement structure        by a predetermined amount or angle.    -   16. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, further comprising:    -   a lip structure within at least one cavity of the plurality of        cavities, wherein a lip structure is configured such that during        operation of the device, the lip structure increases a surface        area of hyponychium skin that is exposed to a cleaning agent        between a free margin of an onychodermal band of a digit located        in the at least one cavity.    -   17. The hand cleaning device of clause 1, wherein the device        enclosure structure comprises material configured for cleaning        an area of skin of a user.    -   18. A hand cleaning device, comprising:        -   porous and compressible materials;        -   a first hand placement surface and a second hand placement            surface configured to retain and express a cleaning agent,            and to receive a first and second hand of a user;        -   a substantially centralized channel made of compressible            material with a depth dimension of at least an average            length of a distal digit, including the nail, of a user's            one or more fingers and/or one or more thumbs, positioned            between the first hand placement surface and second hand            placement surface, the substantially centralized channel            configured to receive, retain and express a cleaning agent,            and to receive one or more digits of a user for atraumatic            cleaning;        -   a reservoir configured to retain the cleaning agent until an            operation of the device;        -   a release mechanism configured to release the cleaning agent            from the reservoir, through one or more of a plurality of            exterior and interior outlets, and into the at least one            hand placement surface and the channel; and        -   an interior outlet within the channel, for releasing the            cleaning agent onto one or more digits of the user.    -   19. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the first and        second hand placement surfaces are configured such that when the        first hand of the user is positioned on the first hand placement        surface and the second hand of the user is positioned on the        second hand placement surface a first palm of the user's first        hand faces towards a second palm of the user's second hand.    -   20. The hand held device of clause 18, further comprising:        -   a plurality of alignment structures, wherein an alignment            structure, selected from the plurality of alignment            structures, promotes separation of the digits of the user.    -   21. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the plurality of        alignment structures comprise a barrier material configured to        prevent transmission of pathogens through the barrier.    -   22. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the plurality of        alignment structures comprise a barrier material configured to        substantially decrease a transmission of pathogens through the        barrier.    -   23. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the device has a        substantially cylindrical shape.    -   24. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the device has a        cylindrical shape when in a compressed configuration and expands        into a substantially spherical configuration upon activation.    -   25. The hand cleaning device of clause 18, wherein the device        itself comprises a degradable material.    -   26. The hand held device of clause 18, wherein the device        comprises an absorbent material.    -   27. A hand cleaning device for reducing a level pathogens on        hands and digits of the user, the device comprising:    -   a first hand placement area coupled to a second hand held        placement area, the first and second hand placement areas being        substantially symmetrical, and wherein the first hand held        placement area is configured to receive a first hand of a user        and the second hand placement area is configured to receive a        second hand of the user such that during proper usage of the        device a first palm of the first hand faces a second palm of the        second hand; and    -   a substantially centralized area comprised of porous,        compressible materials and configured to receive a cleaning        agent and a full length of a distal digit of the user for        atraumatic cleaning.    -   28. The device of clause 27, wherein the first hand placement        area and the second hand placement area comprise a compressible        material configured to receive, retain, and release a cleaning        agent onto the hand and digits of the user.    -   29. The device of clause 27, wherein the device is spherical in        shape    -   30. The device of clause 27, wherein the device has a        cylindrical shape and unfolds into a spherical shape.    -   31. A hand cleaning device, comprising:    -   a device enclosure structure, further comprising:        -   a first hand-placement structure; and        -   a second hand-placement structure;    -   a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings are        spaced apart on a face of the device enclosure structure;    -   a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity is aligned with a        respective opening, and wherein each cavity is configured to        receive a digit of a user;    -   a barrier structure positioned between a pair of adjacent        cavities, selected from the plurality of cavities, wherein the        barrier structure is configured to substantially reduce        transmission of an infectious agent between the pair of adjacent        cavities;    -   an exterior outlet positioned on the face of the device        enclosure structure, configured to release a cleaning fluid onto        a hand of a user; and    -   an interior outlet positioned in one or more of the plurality of        cavities, configured to release the cleaning fluid onto one or        more digits of a user.    -   32. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, further comprising a        lip structure within a at least one cavity of the plurality of        cavities, wherein a lip structure is configured such that during        operation of the device, to increase a surface area of        hyponychium skin that is exposed to the cleaning fluid between a        free margin and an onychodermal band of a finger or any digit        located in the at least one cavity.    -   33. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, further comprising:        -   a cleaning fluid reservoir within the device enclosure            structure configured to retain the cleaning fluid from            entering the plurality of cavities until an operation of the            device.    -   34. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, further comprising:    -   a release mechanism within the device enclosure structure,        configured to release the cleaning fluid through one or more of        the plurality of exterior and interior outlets.    -   35. The hand cleaning device of clause 34, wherein the release        mechanism is configured to release the cleaning fluid upon        movement of the first hand placement structure relative to the        second hand placement structure.    -   36. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the at least        one hand placement structure comprises a porous material, and        wherein at least one of the plurality of exterior outlets or the        plurality of interior outlets comprises pores of said porous        material.    -   37. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the device        enclosure structure comprises an abrasive material configured        for scrubbing skin of a user.    -   38. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the device        enclosure structure is substantially cylindrical in shape.    -   39. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the device        comprises a compressible material, and the device has a        substantially cylindrical shape when in a compressed        configuration at a pressure less than an ambient pressure, and        expands into a substantially spherical shape at the ambient        pressure.    -   40. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the first        hand-placement structure is rotatably coupled to the second        hand-placement structure such that the first hand-placement        structure is configured to rotate relative to the second        hand-placement structure by a predetermined angle.    -   41. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the first        hand-placement structure is coupled to the second hand-placement        structure by a flexible coupling such that the first        hand-placement structure is configured to be displaced relative        to the second hand-placement structure by a predetermined        amount.    -   42. The hand cleaning device of clause 31, wherein the device        enclosure structure comprises a degradable material.    -   43. A unitary hand-held device comprising:        -   a first hand-placement structure comprising an outer surface            configured to receive a palm of a first hand of a user;        -   a second hand-placement structure, that with respect to a            first horizontal axis, opposes the first hand placement            structure, and further configured to receive a palm of a            second hand of the same user while the first hand is            received within the first hand placement structure such that            during usage of the device, the user's first palm and second            palm face each other with respect to the first horizontal            axis;        -   a channel, positioned, with respect to the horizontal axis,            between the first hand-placement structure's outer surface            and the second hand-placement structure's outer surface,            configured to receive a plurality of digits of each of the            first and the second hand of the user, wherein an outermost            perimeter of each of the hand placement structures are            larger than an outermost perimeter of the channel with            respect to a distance along a perpendicular direction from            the first horizontal axis; and        -   an interior outlet within the channel, for releasing a            cleaning agent onto one or more digits of the user.    -   44. The device of clause 43, wherein both the hand-placement        structures and the channel all have a consistent homogenous        composition with respect to each other.    -   45. The hand-held device of clause 44, wherein the alignment        structures are configured to be at least partially created by a        force of the user's digits pressing into the channel.    -   46. The hand-held device of clause 45, wherein the channel        comprises a porous compressible material configured such that,        during use of the device, pores of the compressible material are        configured to shut or otherwise be substantially blocked by the        force of the user's digits and/or a rotational force of the        device.    -   47. The hand-held device of clause 46, wherein the device is        further configured such that a force of the user's digits and/or        a rotational force of the device during use will cause the        device to expose a cleaning agent held by the porous        compressible material to be extruded onto at least a portion of        the digits within the channel.    -   48. The hand-held device of clause 43, wherein the channel        comprises a porous compressible material configured such that,        during use of the device, pores of the compressible material are        configured to shut or otherwise be substantially blocked by the        force of the user's digits and/or a rotational force of the        device, whereby cross-contamination between different digits is        reduced or prevented.    -   49. The hand-held device of clause 44, wherein the channel is        configured, such that during use, it has a depth dimension of at        least an average length of a distal digit of a user's one or        more fingers or one or more thumbs.    -   50. The hand-held device of clause 43, wherein a force of the        user's digits and/or a rotational force of the device during use        is configured to expose a cleaning agent held by the porous        compressible material to be extruded onto at least a portion of        digits within the channel.    -   51. The device of clause 43, wherein the channel comprises a        first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is        configured to receive a plurality of digits from the first hand        and the second channel is configured to receive a plurality of        digits from the second hand.    -   52. The device of clause 43, wherein the device is further        configured to extrude a cleaning agent onto the palms of the        user during use.    -   53. The device of clause 52, wherein the extrusion of the        cleaning agent onto the palms is caused by at least one force        along the direction of the first horizontal axis that results in        shortening a length of the device along the first horizontal        axis.    -   54. The device of clause 52, wherein the first horizontal axis        is a first axis of rotation and wherein the extrusion of the        cleaning agent onto the palms of the user is caused by at least        one force along the axis of rotation.    -   55. The device of clause 43, wherein the device is configured to        be flexible such that during use, the first hand placement        structure is flexibly connected to the second hand placement        structure, such that each is configured to permit the rotation        of a plurality of digits of the first hand by at least 45        degrees with respect to the corresponding digits of the second        hand placement structure about an axis of rotation that is        colinear with the first horizontal axis.    -   56. A unitary device for the atraumatic reduction of a level of        an infectious agent on a hand of a user comprising:        -   a first hand-placement structure and a second hand placement            structure, that with respect to a first horizontal axis,            opposes the first hand placement structure, the first and            second hand-placement structures being substantially            symmetrical about a centerline along the first horizontal            axis of the device, and wherein the first hand-placement            structure is configured to receive a first hand of the user            and the second hand-placement structure is configured to            receive a second hand of the user such that, during proper            usage of the device, a first palm of the first hand faces a            second palm of the second hand; and        -   a divider region comprising a divider structure that            separates the first hand-placement structure from the second            hand-placement structure, and further separates one or more            digits of the first hand or the second hand of the user,            wherein an outermost perimeter of each of the hand placement            structures are larger than an outermost perimeter of the            divider with respect to a distance along a perpendicular            direction from the first horizontal axis;        -   wherein the divider region comprises a porous compressible            material configured such that, during use of the device,            pores of the compressible material are configured to shut or            otherwise be substantially blocked by the force of the            user's digits and/or a rotational force of the device,            whereby cross-contamination between different digits is            reduced or prevented.    -   57. The device of clause 56, wherein the first hand-placement        structure, the second hand-placement structure, and the divider        structure each comprise at least one compressible porous        material.    -   58. The device of clause 56, wherein the device is configured to        release a cleaning agent upon flexing the first hand-placement        structure relative to the second hand-placement structure.    -   59. The device of clause 58, wherein the device is configured        such that the release of the cleaning agent is configured to        cause the extrusion of the cleaning agent onto the user's palms        positioned on the hand placement structures and at least a        plurality of digits of both hands positioned at the divider, and        wherein the extrusion of cleaning agent onto the palms is caused        by at least one force along the direction of the first        horizontal axis that results in shortening a length of the        device along the first horizontal axis.    -   60. The device of clause 56, wherein the divider region        comprises a porous compressible material configured such that,        during use of the device, pores of the compressible material are        configured to shut or otherwise be substantially blocked by the        force of the user's digits and/or a rotational force of the        device, whereby cross-contamination between different digits is        reduced or prevented.    -   61. The device of clause 54, further comprising: a plurality of        alignment structures wherein an alignment structure, selected        from the plurality of alignment structures, promotes separation        of a pair of digits of the user during use of the device.    -   62. A unitary hand-held device comprising:        -   a body composed of at least one compressible material and            comprising a first hand-placement structure and a            second-hand placement structure which are connected via a            divider structure of a divider region, wherein the body is            configurable to expand from a compressed state to an            expanded state, wherein at the expanded state, the device is            configured to expand into a substantially spherical shape at            an ambient pressure and comprises:        -   a first hand-placement structure comprising an outer surface            configured to receive a palm of a first hand of a user;        -   a second hand-placement structure, that with respect to a            first horizontal axis, opposes the first hand placement            structure, and further configured to receive a palm of a            second hand of the same user while the first hand is            received within the first hand placement structure such that            during usage of the device, the user's first palm and second            palms face each other with respect to the first horizontal            axis; and        -   a channel, positioned, with respect to the horizontal axis,            between the first hand-placement structure's outer surface            and the second hand-placement structure's outer surface,            wherein an outermost perimeter of each of the hand-placement            structures are larger than an outermost perimeter of the            channel with respect to a distance along a perpendicular            direction from the first horizontal axis, the channel being            configured to receive at least a portion of a plurality of            digits of each of the first and the second hand of the user            and upon use of the device to reduce a level of infectious            agents present on an underside of a nail plate of the            plurality of digits as well as an area of hyponychium skin            between a free margin of the nail plate and an onychodermal            band of each of the plurality of digits.

What is claimed is:
 1. A unitary hand-held device comprising: a firsthand-placement structure comprising an outer surface configured toreceive a first palm of a first hand of a user; a second hand-placementstructure, that with respect to a first horizontal axis, opposes thefirst hand placement structure, and further comprising an outer surfaceconfigured to receive a second palm of a second hand of the same userwhile the first hand is received by the first hand placement structuresuch that during usage of the device, the user's first palm and secondpalm face each other with respect to the first horizontal axis; and adigit cleaning region comprising a plurality of cavities positioned,with respect to the first horizontal axis, between the firsthand-placement structure's outer surface and the second hand-placementstructure's outer surface, configured to receive a plurality of digitsof each of the first and the second hand of the user, wherein at least aportion of the cavities are configured to, during use of the device,have a depth dimension of at least a length of a distal aspect of theuser's one or more fingers or one or more thumbs positioned within therespective cavity; and a mechanism of the digit cleaning regionconfigured to release a cleaning agent into the cavities during use ofthe device, wherein the device is configured such that during use, thedevice is configured to expose the cleaning agent onto the digits andresult in atraumatic cleaning of the distal aspect of the digitincluding an underside of a nail plate of the plurality of digits withinthe cavities as well as an area of hyponychium skin between a freemargin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of each of theplurality of digits, and wherein the digit cleaning region comprises aporous compressible material and at least one of a force of the user'sdigits and a rotational force of the device is configured to expose thecleaning agent held by the porous compressible material to be extrudedonto the digits within the respective cavities.
 2. The hand-held deviceof claim 1, wherein both the hand-placement structures and the digitcleaning region all have a consistent homogenous composition.
 3. Thehand-held device of claim 1, wherein the cavities are devoid of thecleaning agent prior to use of the device and wherein a rotational forceof the device along an axis of rotation is caused, at least in part, bythe user's digits within the respective cavities, and results in releaseof the cleaning agent.
 4. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein aninner perimeter of at least one cavity comprises the porous compressiblematerial, and the device is configured such that during use, the innerperimeter compresses to conform to a shape of at least a portion of aperimeter of the distal aspect of the digit within the respective cavityto create a lip structure within the respective cavity configured toincrease a surface area of hyponychium skin that is exposed to thecleaning agent between the free margin and the onychodermal band of thedigit located in that respective cavity.
 5. The hand-held device ofclaim 1, wherein an inner perimeter of at least one cavity comprises theporous compressible material, and the device is configured such thatduring use of the device, the inner perimeter compresses to conform to ashape of at least a portion of a perimeter of the distal aspect of thedigit within the respective cavity; and the at least one cavitycomprising the porous compressible material further comprises: a lipstructure composed of a material other than the porous compressiblematerial, and is configured to increase a surface area of hyponychiumskin that is exposed to the cleaning agent between the free margin andthe onychodermal band of the digit located in the at least one cavity.6. The hand-held device of claim 5, wherein the porous compressiblematerial is a first compressible material having a first porosity andthe lip structure is a second compressible material having a secondporosity; and wherein pores of the second compressible material areconfigured to shut or otherwise be substantially blocked by a firstforce whereas the pores of the first compressible material areconfigured to remain open or otherwise not be substantially blocked bythe first force.
 7. The hand-held device of claim 5, wherein the porouscompressible material differs from the lip structure in a propertyselected from the group consisting of: rigidity, compressibility,density and combinations thereof.
 8. The hand-held device of claim 1,wherein pores of the compressible material are configured to shut orotherwise be substantially blocked by at least one of the force of theuser's digits and the rotational force of the device, such that toretain an increased amount of the extruded cleaning agent within thecavities during use.
 9. The hand-held device of claim 1, wherein anoutermost perimeter of each of the outer surfaces of the first andsecond hand-placement structures are larger than an outermost perimeterof the digit cleaning region with respect to a distance along aperpendicular direction from the first horizontal axis.
 10. Thehand-held device of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured toextrude the cleaning agent onto the first and second palms of the uservia at least one outlet on the outer surface of the hand placementstructures during use of the device.
 11. The hand-held device of claim1, wherein a majority of a total depth of at least one cavity is formedby a force of the user's digit acting upon the device.
 12. The hand-helddevice of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to expand from acompressed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein thedevice has substantially a cylindrical shape when in the compressedconfiguration, and is configured to expand into a substantiallyspherical shape upon activation by unfolding, untwisting, or exposure tochange in ambient pressure to be at the expanded configuration.
 13. Aunitary hand-held device comprising: a first hand-placement structurecomprising an outer surface configured to receive a first palm of afirst hand of a user; a second hand-placement structure, that withrespect to a first horizontal axis, opposes the first hand placementstructure, and further comprising an outer surface configured to receivea second palm of a second hand of the same user while the first hand isreceived by the first hand placement structure such that during usage ofthe device, the user's first palm and second palm face each other withrespect to the first horizontal axis; and a digit cleaning regioncomprising a plurality of cavities positioned, with respect to the firsthorizontal axis, between the first hand-placement structure's outersurface and the second hand-placement structure's outer surface,configured to receive a plurality of digits of each of the first and thesecond hand of the user, wherein at least a portion of the cavities areconfigured to, during use of the device, have a depth dimension of atleast a length of a distal aspect of the user's one or more fingers orone or more thumbs positioned within the respective cavity; and amechanism of the digit cleaning region configured to release a cleaningagent into the cavities during use of the device, wherein the device isconfigured such that during use, the device is configured to expose thecleaning agent onto the digits and result in atraumatic cleaning of thedistal aspect of the digit including an underside of a nail plate of theplurality of digits within the cavities as well as an area ofhyponychium skin between a free margin of the nail plate and anonychodermal band of each of the plurality of digits, and wherein thecavities are devoid of the cleaning agent prior to use of the device andwherein a rotational force of the device along an axis of rotation iscaused, at least in part, by the user's digits within the respectivecavities, and results in release of the cleaning agent.
 14. A unitaryhand-held device comprising: a first hand-placement structure comprisingan outer surface configured to receive a first palm of a first hand of auser; a second hand-placement structure, that with respect to a firsthorizontal axis, opposes the first hand placement structure, and furthercomprising an outer surface configured to receive a second palm of asecond hand of the same user while the first hand is received by thefirst hand placement structure such that during usage of the device, theuser's first palm and second palm face each other with respect to thefirst horizontal axis; and a digit cleaning region comprising aplurality of cavities positioned, with respect to the first horizontalaxis, between the first hand-placement structure's outer surface and thesecond hand-placement structure's outer surface, configured to receive aplurality of digits of each of the first and the second hand of theuser, wherein at least a portion of the cavities are configured to,during use of the device, have a depth dimension of at least a length ofa distal aspect of the user's one or more fingers or one or more thumbspositioned within the respective cavity; and a mechanism of the digitcleaning region configured to release a cleaning agent into the cavitiesduring use of the device, wherein the device is configured such thatduring use, the device is configured to expose the cleaning agent ontothe digits and result in atraumatic cleaning of the distal aspect of thedigit including an underside of a nail plate of the plurality of digitswithin the cavities as well as an area of hyponychium skin between afree margin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of each of theplurality of digits, and wherein an outermost perimeter of each of theouter surfaces of the first and second hand-placement structures arelarger than an outermost perimeter of the digit cleaning region withrespect to a distance along a perpendicular direction from the firsthorizontal axis.
 15. A unitary hand-held device comprising: a firsthand-placement structure comprising an outer surface configured toreceive a first palm of a first hand of a user; a second hand-placementstructure, that with respect to a first horizontal axis, opposes thefirst hand placement structure, and further comprising an outer surfaceconfigured to receive a second palm of a second hand of the same userwhile the first hand is received by the first hand placement structuresuch that during usage of the device, the user's first palm and secondpalm face each other with respect to the first horizontal axis; and adigit cleaning region comprising a plurality of cavities positioned,with respect to the first horizontal axis, between the firsthand-placement structure's outer surface and the second hand-placementstructure's outer surface, configured to receive a plurality of digitsof each of the first and the second hand of the user, wherein at least aportion of the cavities are configured to, during use of the device,have a depth dimension of at least a length of a distal aspect of theuser's one or more fingers or one or more thumbs positioned within therespective cavity; and a mechanism of the digit cleaning regionconfigured to release a cleaning agent into the cavities during use ofthe device, wherein the device is configured such that during use, thedevice is configured to expose the cleaning agent onto the digits andresult in atraumatic cleaning of the distal aspect of the digitincluding an underside of a nail plate of the plurality of digits withinthe cavities as well as an area of hyponychium skin between a freemargin of the nail plate and an onychodermal band of each of theplurality of digits, wherein the device is configured to expand from acompressed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein thedevice has substantially a cylindrical shape when in the compressedconfiguration, and is configured to expand into a substantiallyspherical shape upon activation by unfolding, untwisting, or exposure tochange in ambient pressure to be at the expanded configuration.